When do hummingbirds leave Missouri?

Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Missouri by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.

When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Missouri?

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in early September, on about 45% of Missouri checklists.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Missouri?

Photo: David Bird, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Missouri in mid April, are common by late April, peak in early September (45% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Missouri.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April

Common byApr 22-30late April

PeakSep 1-7early September

Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: early September. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 45% of Missouri checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octuncommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Hummingbirds in Missouri, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	Sep 1-7	Oct 1-7	45%

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Missouri that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Missouri

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Daviess CountyBest early September · 22 checklists that week, 1,354 in all87%
Iron CountyBest mid July · 28 checklists that week, 4,515 in all82%
Cass CountyBest early September · 123 checklists that week, 7,791 in all78%
Carroll CountyBest the second week of September · 19 checklists that week, 770 in all77%
Randolph CountyBest early August · 14 checklists that week, 838 in all77%
Oregon CountyBest the second week of September · 24 checklists that week, 1,145 in all76%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Missouri?: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Missouri in mid April, are common by late April, peak in early September (45% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Missouri.
When do hummingbirds leave Missouri?: Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Missouri by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Missouri?: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in early September, on about 45% of Missouri checklists.